IT & Systems Administrator

Tech moves: former Xbox exec named Dolby CEO; Microsoft AI exits; new Fred Hutch leaders. by Todd Bishop on Aug 28, 2026 at 10:08 am - Marc Whitten, a former Microsoft and Amazon executive, was named president and CEO of San Francisco-based Dolby Laboratories. He succeeds Kevin Yeaman, who is retiring after leading the entertainment technology company for nearly 20 years. Whitten spent 17 years at Microsoft, rising to corporate vice president and chief product officer for Xbox. He went on to serve as chief product officer at Sonos before joining Amazon as vice president of entertainment devices and services, overseeing products including Alexa, Kindle and Fire TV. He later served as president of Unity Create and CEO of Cruise. Most recently, he was vice president of robotics at Meta. Dr. Lawrence Fong was named senior vice president and director of the Translational Science and Therapeutics Division, effective Dec. 1. He succeeds Dr. Geoff Hill, who is departing the organization in December. Fong joined Fred Hutch in 2024 as scientific director of the Immunotherapy Integrated Research Center and Bezos Family Distinguished Scholar in Immunotherapy. He previously founded the Cancer Immunotherapy Program at the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Andrew Hsieh, the associate director of the Fred Hutch Human Biology Division, was named the inaugural Larry and Virginia Gordon Endowed Chair in Prostate and Bladder Cancer Research. Hsieh is a physician-scientist at Fred Hutch specializing in genitourinary cancers. - Two recent notable Microsoft AI-related exits: Andréa Mallard is leaving her role as chief marketing officer of Microsoft AI after joining from Pinterest in January, according to Business Insider. She will stay on as an advisor until early next year. Mallard, who is based in the San Francisco Bay Area, previously served as global chief marketing officer at Pinterest for eight years. Ece Kamar departed Microsoft Research after 16 years with the company. She was corporate vice president and managing director of the AI Frontiers Lab, where she worked on small language models and the company's agentic AI stack. She has not announced her next role. - Poppy MacDonald was named president of NationSwell, a social impact membership organization. MacDonald previously served as president of USAFacts, the nonpartisan civic data initiative founded by former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, for seven years. A past recipient of an Uncommon Thinkers award from GeekWire and Greater Seattle Partners, she is also the former president and COO of POLITICO. - Jeff Buhrman joined Seattle startup Tin Can as head of finance. The company is building a screen-free, WiFi-enabled phone designed to let kids connect with friends and family. Buhrman previously served as CFO of Seattle-based Sleep Doctor for more than four years. - Susan Loosmore was confirmed to the Major League Baseball Stadium Public Facilities District board, which oversees T-Mobile Park. The King County Council approved the appointment Aug. 25. Loosmore spent more than 17 years in executive leadership at T-Mobile and previously served as chair of the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce. - Seattle-based SecureW2, a passwordless security company, named Martin Musierowicz as president and Mark Packham as chief marketing officer. * Musierowicz, who is based in Atlanta, previously served as chief revenue officer at SmartBear and Keyfactor. Earlier, he led global channels and alliances at Atlassian through its IPO. * Packham, who is based in Salt Lake City, Utah, joins from Dragos, where he was CMO. He previously served as executive vice president of marketing at DigiCert. - Vancouver, B.C.-based Integrated Quantum Technologies, an enterprise AI infrastructure company, appointed Husam Fezzani as CEO. He succeeds Alan Guibord, who moved to chairman. Fezzani spent nearly 30 years at HSBC, where he held senior technology and engineering leadership roles including global engineering head for the bank's Commercial Technology Division.

Parents want safer phones for kids. These companies are answering the call. Published by itjadmin at July 17, 2026 As parents become increasingly concerned about the potential dangers of unrestricted smartphone access for children, a growing number of companies are developing devices specifically designed for kids. Today's kid-friendly phones typically feature touchscreens, cameras, and communication capabilities similar to regular smartphones. However, the software on these devices is heavily modified to remove or restrict access to web browsers, social media, app stores, and other distractions. Parents can usually manage these devices through a companion app, allowing them to approve contacts, monitor locations, set screen time limits, select available apps, and, in some cases, receive alerts regarding cyberbullying, explicit content, or online predators. In addition to these modified devices, some companies offer a more minimalist approach, creating devices that focus solely on calling and texting. There are also home phones designed specifically for children, like Tin Can and the recently launched Pinwheel Home. Here's a look at the major players shaping the kid-phone market. The Bark Phone. The Bark Phone is probably one of the most popular kid-specific smartphones on the market. Built on Samsung Galaxy hardware and powered by Bark's monitoring software, it only allows calls and texts with approved contacts. Bark continuously scans texts, emails, photos, and supported apps for signs of cyberbullying, grooming, suicidal ideation, sexual content, and other potential concerns, then sends alerts to parents. A big standout feature is that parents can gradually unlock web browsing, apps, and other features as their child matures. The phone also includes GPS tracking and screen-time management. Current pricing for the standard model is $240, plus a required wireless plan beginning at $29/month. Higher-tier plans add internet access and unlimited texting. Gabb. Gabb is a well-known name in the kid-friendly phone category. Unlike Bark, however, Gabb focuses less on monitoring content and more on eliminating online risks altogether. Its phones don't include social media, a browser, or an app store. Instead, children get calling, texting, and a carefully curated selection of preloaded apps, including a camera, calendar, and calculator. The company also touts its "worry-free" music streaming library with millions of songs. Additionally, parents can view location and manage certain device settings, while optional services such as "Gabb Guard" help block spam calls and unwanted texts. Current phone pricing starts around $159.99, with cellular service starting around $24.99 per month. Pinwheel. With Pinwheel, parents approve every app, control contacts, schedule screen time, create custom routines, and monitor location history. One standout feature is the ability to create different "modes" throughout the day. For example, limiting the phone to calling and navigation during school hours before unlocking additional features after homework. Pinwheel phones start around $119, while the Caregiver Portal subscription begins at $14.99 per month without cell service. (Cellular service can be purchased separately through participating carriers.) The company recently launched two landline phones for $68 and $79. It also offers a smartwatch at $160. Teracube Thrive. Launched in 2022, Teracube offers a tailored version of Android known as Thrive OS. This enables parents to approve every app download, filter web browsing, set app-specific and overall screen-time limits, monitor location, and create customized routines for school or bedtime. However, because it has more traditional smartphone features, it's often recommended for older children. Thrive currently sells for $99, with plans starting at $35 per month. Ooma MyPhone. Unlike the other products in this roundup, Ooma MyPhone isn't a mobile phone at all. This kid-focused home phone is designed as a modern replacement for the traditional household landline. The service allows calls only between approved contacts through its Trusted Circle feature, offers scheduled Quiet Hours, provides address-based 911 service, sends emergency alerts when 911 is dialed, and lets parents review call logs through an online portal. There are no apps, internet browsing, texting, or social media. The phone costs $99.99, while service starts at $7.99 per month. Tin Can. For $100, Tin Can resembles a landline phone with a distinctive tin can design, which is the inspiration behind its name. This device does not require a traditional phone jack, but connects via Wi-Fi. Only approved contacts can make calls, effectively preventing spam or unauthorized communications. Parents can easily manage contacts through a user-friendly companion app. Tin Can offers a free plan for calling other Tin Can users, as well as a $9.99 per month plan that allows calls to all approved contacts. When you purchase through links in its articles, Itjockies may earn a small commission. This doesn't affect its editorial independence.